gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
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1997 AGLC allows the number <strong>of</strong> slot mach<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> cas<strong>in</strong>os to be doubled, the hours for table games to<br />
be extended by one hour to a maximum <strong>of</strong> 14, for alcohol to be served on the gam<strong>in</strong>g floor, and<br />
for cas<strong>in</strong>os to operate on Sundays.<br />
VLTs are removed from Rocky Mounta<strong>in</strong> House and Sylvan Lake follow<strong>in</strong>g local plebiscites.<br />
Plebiscites are also held <strong>in</strong> Barrhead, Wood Buffalo (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Fort McMurray) and Lacombe.<br />
Barrhead votes to keep VLTs. Wood Buffalo votes to remove VLTs, but retailers take legal action<br />
to stop this. The courts declare Lacombe’s vote <strong>in</strong>valid.<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Calgary opens.<br />
Jackpot Cas<strong>in</strong>o opens <strong>in</strong> Red Deer.<br />
Slots <strong>in</strong>stalled <strong>in</strong> a racetrack facility (Whoop-Up Downs/Bully’s Sport & Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment Centre) <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Lethbridge</strong>.<br />
1998 The Alberta government accepts and eventually enacts almost all recommendations from the<br />
Alberta Lotteries and Gam<strong>in</strong>g Summit 1998. Specifically these recommendations were: more<br />
<strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> research; age 18 required for all forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>; charitable model for cas<strong>in</strong>os and<br />
b<strong>in</strong>gos be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed; gam<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>of</strong>its not be put <strong>in</strong>to the General Revenue Fund; all pr<strong>of</strong>its<br />
directed to charitable or nonpr<strong>of</strong>it community <strong>in</strong>itiatives; <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> addiction<br />
prevention and treatment; better accountability and disclosure <strong>of</strong> gam<strong>in</strong>g activity as well as<br />
costs/benefits.<br />
Alberta Rac<strong>in</strong>g Corporation restricts horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g to people 18 and older.<br />
Community Lottery Boards are established by the Alberta government to oversee the distribution<br />
<strong>of</strong> $50 million/year <strong>in</strong> lottery funds.<br />
Adult Albertans are determ<strong>in</strong>ed to have an 87% past year prevalence <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> and 4.7%<br />
prevalence rate <strong>of</strong> problem <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> (Adult Gambl<strong>in</strong>g and Problem Gambl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Alberta, 1998)<br />
VLT plebiscites are held <strong>in</strong> 36 Alberta municipalities dur<strong>in</strong>g the October 19 civic elections. Six<br />
municipalities vote to have their VLTs removed. VLT retailers take legal action to stop this and<br />
courts rule that AGLC cannot remove VLTs from municipalities unless there is specified legislation<br />
<strong>in</strong> place.<br />
1999 Alberta government passes legislation to remove VLTs from communities that voted to have<br />
them removed. However, a court <strong>in</strong>junction stops them pend<strong>in</strong>g a constitutional challenge to this<br />
new legislation (not decided until 2003).<br />
Amendment made to the Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code (s.207.1) permitt<strong>in</strong>g ‘lottery schemes’ on <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
cruise ships as long as the ship is not with<strong>in</strong> 5 nautical miles <strong>of</strong> a Canadian port. Another Crim<strong>in</strong>al<br />
Code amendment elim<strong>in</strong>ates the prohibition aga<strong>in</strong>st dice games.<br />
AGLC announces a moratorium on new cas<strong>in</strong>os or further <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> expansion pend<strong>in</strong>g the results<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Gam<strong>in</strong>g Licens<strong>in</strong>g Policy Review. AGLC also launches a B<strong>in</strong>go Industry Review.<br />
The M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Gam<strong>in</strong>g is created, which <strong>in</strong>cludes the Department <strong>of</strong> Gam<strong>in</strong>g, the Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and Liquor Commission, the Community Lottery Program Secretariat, the Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>Research</strong> Council and Alberta Rac<strong>in</strong>g Corporation.<br />
An agreement between the Government <strong>of</strong> Alberta and the prov<strong>in</strong>ce’s three major universities<br />
results <strong>in</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> the Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Research</strong> Institute.<br />
The Western 649 was launched <strong>in</strong> February.<br />
Great Northern Cas<strong>in</strong>o (Grande Prairie) opens.<br />
Cash Cas<strong>in</strong>o (<strong>Lethbridge</strong>) closes.<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Edmonton expands its facility to accommodate more slot mach<strong>in</strong>es, as did the Cash Cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
facilities <strong>in</strong> both Red Deer and Calgary.<br />
The dice game ‘craps’ is <strong>in</strong>troduced to some cas<strong>in</strong>os.<br />
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